"Ragnar, come out here! You need to see this!"

Aria's voice cut through the rumble of the carriages, sharp and excited like she always got when spotting something big.

I sighed, setting down the map I'd been staring at, and pushed my way to the front.

The carriage swayed a bit as I moved.

Aria was up in the driver's seat, her hands tight on the reins, eyes fixed ahead.

She nodded toward the horizon without a word.

There they were.

massive stone walls, stretching up about 20 meters, topped with rows of weapons and armor glinting in the sun.

Guards paced along the battlements, their postures stiff, watching everything below.

We kept rolling closer, the horses snorting as the gate came into view.

It was a heavy iron thing, barred shut.

Suddenly, a booming voice echoed from up top: "Halt!"

Aria glanced back at me, her eyebrows raised in that 'what now?' look she always gave.

I nodded, signaling it was fine.

She pulled the reins, and both carriages creaked to a stop.

Dust kicked up around us.

I didn't sit around waiting.

Hopping down from the carriage, I stretched my legs, feeling the ache in my left shoulder from that old fight.

A knight strode out from the gate, armor clanking with each step.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a helmet that hid most of his face.

He stopped a few paces away, hand on his sword hilt.

"Where's your permit?" he demanded, eyeing me like I was some random traveler.

No spark of recognition in his voice.

Before I could answer, Sophia stepped down from the second carriage.

She moved slow, deliberate, her cloak hood pulled back just enough to show her face.

The knight's eyes flicked to her, and bam.

his face went pale, like he'd seen a ghost.

His hand dropped from the sword.

"You... you don't need one," he stammered, voice dropping low.

"You can pass."

He spun toward the gate, waving his arms frantically.

"Lift the gate! Now!"

The iron groaned as chains rattled, pulling it up.

I climbed back up beside Aria, who shot me a smirk.

"Sophia's got that effect on people, huh?"

"Yeah," I muttered, settling in.

"Saves us time, at least."

We urged the horses forward, passing under the gate into Lebara city.

The streets opened up, bustling even at noon.

Vendors hawked wares from carts, kids darted between legs, and the air smelled of bread and smoke from forges.

"Business district?" Aria asked, steering us through the crowd.

I nodded.

"Might as well shop while we're here. Stock up."

Tiamat, handling the second carriage, pulled over to a side street.

She hopped down, muttering something under her breath.

probably a spell.

With a flick of her wrist, a faint glow wrapped around both carriages, locking them tight with magic.

No one was getting in without a fight.

She caught up to us quick, falling in step.

"All set. Nothing's touching those without my say-so."

"Good," Sophia said softly, her voice calm as ever.

She didn't talk much, but when she did, it carried weight.

"Let's not waste time."

We wandered into the business district, shops lining the cobblestone paths.

Cloth merchants, weapon smiths, potion sellers.

the usual.

Aria eyed a stall with leather boots.

"These would hold up better than what I've got."

I shrugged.

"Grab 'em if you want. We've got coin."

We spread out a bit, browsing.

Tiamat poked at some herbs in a apothecary window, sniffing them skeptically.

"This one's overpriced. Smells weak."

Sophia hung back, scanning the crowds like she expected trouble.

Me?

I was half-listening to a vendor drone on about enchanted daggers when a shout ripped through the air.

It came from a nearby clothing shop, loud and panicked.

"Help! Get off me!"

We all spun toward it.

Blood sprayed out the door, splattering the street.

A customer stumbled back, clutching his arm, red soaking his sleeve.

And there, in the doorway, was the assaulter.

clear as day.

My gut twisted.

It was the same monster that had ripped into me back in the forest, taking half my left shoulder.

Same twisted horns, same snarling maw.

I didn't think twice.

"That's him!" I growled, charging forward.

The others reacted fast.

Aria drew her blade.

"Ragnar, wait!"

But I was already on it.

The monster lunged at me, claws swiping.

I dodged, slamming my fist into its side.

It roared, but something felt off.

I glanced at its body.

no scar, no mark from our last fight.

It was like the thing had been reborn, fresh and whole.

We clashed hard.

It swung wild, teeth snapping.

I blocked, countered with a kick to its knee.

Pain shot through my shoulder, but I pushed through.

"You again?" I spat, grabbing its arm and twisting.

It howled, but its moves were sloppy, uncoordinated.

Like it didn't know how to fight proper.

I landed a solid punch to its jaw, then drove my elbow down.

It staggered, and I finished it with a boot to the chest, sending it crumpling.

Breathing heavy, I stared down at the dead body.

Blood pooled around it, but my mind raced.

First off, this one was weaker than the forest beast.

That one had nearly killed me; this felt like fighting a pup.

Second, the way it fought... immature.

Hesitant swings, no strategy.

Almost like it'd been born just seconds ago, thrown into the world without a clue.

Aria rushed up, blade still out.

"You okay? That thing looked just like. "

"Yeah," I cut in, wiping sweat from my brow.

"The one from the forest. But different. Weaker."

Tiamat knelt by the body, prodding it with her boot.

"No wounds from before. Regenerated? Or a copy?"

Sophia approached slow, her eyes narrow.

"Not natural. Someone's making these."

I nodded, flexing my shoulder.

It throbbed, a reminder.

"We need to figure this out. But not here. too open."

The shop owner peeked out, face ashen.

"Th-thank you. It just... appeared. Attacked out of nowhere."

Aria sheathed her blade.

"You see where it came from?"

He shook his head.

"One minute, customer's browsing shirts. Next, this beast bursts in."

Tiamat stood, dusting her hands.

"Magic residue. Faint, but there. Portal maybe?"

I glanced around.

Crowds were gathering, whispering.

Guards would show soon.

"Let's move. Grab what we need and get out."

Sophia touched my arm lightly.

"Your shoulder?"

"Fine," I lied.

It burned, but I'd push through.

"Just glad we caught it quick."

We hurried back to the carriages, Tiamat unlocking them with a wave.

Aria climbed up front.

"Lebara's not as safe as it looks."

"Never is," I muttered, settling in.

As we rolled out, I couldn't shake it.

That monster.

reborn, weak, new.

What the hell was going on?

If more were coming, we'd be ready.

But for now, shopping was done.

Time to plan.

Tiamat leaned over from the back.

"Think it's linked to that forest pack?"

"Probably," I said.

"But this one's fresh. Like it was spat out minutes ago."

Sophia stayed quiet, but her eyes said she was thinking deep.

Aria cracked the reins.

"Well, next time, let's not let it ruin the day."

I chuckled despite the ache.

"Deal."

We left the district behind, the walls of Lebara fading as we pushed on.

But that fight stuck with me.

a warning of worse to come.

...nsnsnsnsnnsn

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